On local Law Enforcement. This is just under two hours. On. This is just under two hours. The subcommittee on crime, terrorism, Homeland Security and investigations come to the committee. There are challenges faced in Law Enforcement in the 21st century. I will have an Opening Statement, a quick personal indulgence. I would ask everyone, raymond our friend remember our friend thom tillis. And i want to thank jim and goodlatte for this hearing to goodlatte foran this hearing. We need to honor our Law Enforcement officers. Thank you to our witnesses for being here. We have chuck canterbury, president. Fromo thompson spartanburg, South Carolina. Chief art acevedo. Is that close . Forgive me, i am from South Carolina. City of houston, texas. You are lawenforcement officers across the nation that dedicate your lives to the precept of our country. Which is, respect for and adherence to the rule of law. I know every member of the subcommittee would have their own personal story of how officers have impacted their lives and their own personal testimony for the respect they have for the women and men of Law Enforcement. I was also preparing for this hearing. To an officer in greenville, South Carolina by the name of alan jacobs. Time last year, he learned he would be a father again. But this time it would be different. He had time two boys. This time he would be the father of a little girl. Him very wellred to be a father. He was an outstanding student, great athlete. He put that athleticism and intelligence to work for our country in the army. He was deployed to iraq for 15 months and went to baghdad because he understood all people want to live in a peaceful, secure environment. After iraq, alan was flown to haiti, to help them in the aftermath of their crisis. But fatherhood tugged on him and he went back to South Carolina. His desire to work serve and protect remains. He pursued that calling with the vigor, strength, and perfectionism that defined every other asset of his life. Whether it was on swat team, as a patrol officer, he would stop his patrol car from time to time , carried a basketball in the trunk, would go down to play basketball with the kids that could use a father figure like the one he was providing to his own boys. To his daughter. I learned all of this about him in a telephone call i had with his mother two days before his funeral. Iraq andthe survived boot camp and Police Officer training. He could not and did not survive an encounter with a teenage gang member who would just been released from jail. He never even had a chance to on holster his service weapon. Protect. Fend, he was ambushed. Gave all of us in South Carolina an opportunity to reflect not only on what his , and the life of the jason callinge also lost for backup from one of his fellow officers. Start. Any other of the officers who gave the most precious thing they had to give us the most precious thing we have, which is life. Lawenforcement officers are willing to do what most of us are not willing to do. To interact with people most of us are not willing to interact with. Theyre willing to miss things in life most of us are not willing to miss. So today we are not only here to honor you, but to listen and memorialize those officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. But also, to respect and pay honor to those who are still with us. For beingthank you here. I am most interested in how we can help you do your jobs. Challenges and our criminal Justice System. I want a system that is not only respected, but worthy of respect. There is not a system we have in this country that cannot be improved. I am more than willing to hear ideas on how to improve. There is Something Different about Law Enforcement officers. That as a sight of society, then not only do they wear uniform and a badge, they serve symbolically as a line between law and order and those folks without a conscience. If we lose sight of that, were in trouble as a republic. Witnesses, i look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your courtesy thank to the witnesses, you for your courtesy, as well. I thank you for recognizing or accepting my apologies for my delay. Hearinga very important. As a german indicated, it is important we try to help each other. Law enforcement and community. Timnt to acknowledge mcconnell, chief alonzo thompson, chief canterbury, and chief acevedo. We knowledge in this week those who live and those who have fallen. We need to ensure that those who live recognize we do not want to see anymore tragedies or families not seeing their loved ones come home. I want to acknowledge clinton executed ando was died on 4 3 17. Ther died on diedtive jerry walker january 2017. And five officers among others in dallas who died july 2016. Brent thompson, michael smith, ahrens,orporal lorne officer patrick and michael kohl. I stood with those family members and we will never forget. It is important to seek strategies for Law Enforcement in order to increase Police Safety nationwide and prevent the use of legal force lethal force. Were going to make sure we look at both sides of the issues. We want to hear from you about Building Trust and respect. We want to understand what has been used by many as police militarization, or how we can balance protection of the community with the various assets that you utilize. The needs for responsible and comprehensive data. Data is the science of police work. And to be able to deal with the question of lethal force to protect your lives and the lives of the community. Democracy,o keep our there must be one commandment, thou shalt not ration justice. I look forward to hearing from you as well. In keeping in line with this idea of justice. I want to make a point i have made before. This full committee, were the subcommittee on crime. Subcommitteeary, led by our esteemed senator, senator lindsey graham, we must have a full investigation and demand an investigation of the president , attorney general, and Top White House aides. Democrats on the oversight and Judiciary Committee are asking for all memorandums that deal with the ending of the tenure of director comey and dispels the allegations the president asked director comey to end the Flynn Investigation and certainly the release of classified information released but the president can release classified information, and at what jeopardy have they put assets and allies in . Continuing failer of failure of House Republicans will cause damage to credibility and integrity of our community and the house of representatives. We have a solemn obligation under the constitution to act as a check on the executive branch and hold President Trump accountable. Again, not as democrats and republicans, but as americans. It is time we Work Together to be able to find the truth. Obviously, the truth will be our guide. I thank you for your service and commitment to law and order and thehe constitution, and for service we will never be able to thank you for, as you protect the american people. I thank you very much. I yield back to read yelled back. Mr. Gowdy we have a distinguished panel. Please rise and raise your right hand. You swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god. I will introduce you and then recognize you individually for your Opening Statement. I will tell you on the front end, all members have access to your Opening Statements. If i can get you to summarize it, get to salient points within , itfiveminute time period would allow for more time for questions. Sheriff mcdonnell was the sheriff of los angeles county, california. Our second witness is chief alonzo thompson. He is not just the chief, to me he is the director of Public Safety. The district i represent is incredibly well respected and well regarded, in my hometown. Our third witness is chuck canterbury, the president of the order of police. And we can introduce our fourth witness. Our fourth witness is no stranger to Law Enforcement and , he hasief art acevedo california to texas. More recently in the city of austin. He now serves as chief of police in houston, texas. I say that we have a very collaborative ethic on Law Enforcement. I am pleased to say the chief works with all of our Law Enforcement agencies from federal to local to ensure the travels of safe those that come to city our great come to visit our great city. I would like to welcome family members. I want to a knowledge them as well. I yield back to the chairman. And the Ranking Member that has come, mr. Conyers. Mr. Gowdy your Opening Statement. Chairman gowdy, thank you for inviting me to testify this morning on behalf of the sheriffs of america and sheriffs association. As a sheriff of the largest county in the u. S. And the peace officer for more than 35 years, it is an honor to represent the sheriffs sworn to protect people across our great nation. Policing in america has never been more complex. We are First Responders to the greatest social challenges. Is their growing opioid epidemic, cyber terrorism, homegrown extremism and Mental Illness, these of the 21st century challenges we should and must seek together. I have testimony that expands on what i can share here. It is available on the website. I will touch briefly on topics. Cyber attack should make it Crystal Clear just how vulnerable we are and the potential scale such an attack can have. These lurk just below the surface of todays news headlines. They become known only after the imminent attack is made. Attacks of government and bureaucratic salute institutions. There is not a Sheriffs Department in the nation that is immune to Mental Illness and drug addiction. Theinstitutionalization of mentally ill that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s has turned our jails into the fact of Mental Health stations. 70 of the inmates processed into our jails report a medical or Mental Illness. One third of my jail population suffers from a serious Mental Health issue. Ofany given day, upwards 5000 inmates need treatment for their illness. That is forecasted to double over the next 10 years. L a county will need to invest more than 2. 2 billion in net Treatment Facility that can provide Mental Health services for this population, which has no worlds to go. Los angeles county jail, along with Rikers Island in new york cook island in chicago, are the top mental care providers in the nation. This is a failure of our criminal Justice System. There are times when jail is the best and most appropriate option. But the jail is frequently not the best solution. As a nation we have a critical need and moral obligation to build capacity Treatment Options in our communities. We can support Strategic Partnerships with agencies to provide the wrap around Treatment Services to stabilize these individuals and keep them out of our jail system. We have a professional obligation to provide training for officers. Of home too much is expected. We are always facing the unknown, frequently a situation where there asked to take on the role of a Mental Health professional. Alone, angeles county 911 calls involving people with Mental Illness have grown 55 since 2010. We need to find and provide crisis intervention training to all First Responders, both Law Enforcement and fire personnel. Lets Work Together for a nationwide expansion of successful programs, teaming up Mental Health professionals with Law Enforcement officers to intercept the First Responder team. We have had these teams since the 1990s. Many have variations of this program, which are highly successful but seriously overworked and understaffed. Many cities and counties cannot provide the service 24 7. In many places it is difficult to respond in a timely manner. In our experience, when a team is called to a scene, we have the ability to divert the individual away from the criminal Justice System and into proper facilities in 99 of encounters. I would like to think congress for passing an initiative that gives funding to divert those dealing with Mental Illness away from county jails. We should also look at mental notth courts, to help those go to jail or prison. We need to have a conversation about what to do with those suffering from Mental Illness to do end up in our jails and prisons. We can agree that not everyone for suffering from Mental Illness can be diverted. Some are classified as a harm to themselves or others will be placed in jails. We need to provide the most humane and modern setting so they can receive treatment and help they need. We look forward to continuing a dialogue and working with you. We cannot be successful unless we as a nation are committed to finding solutions. I think the chairman for his commitment to collaboration and willingness to engage Law Enforcement on these issues that are so critical to all of us. Mr. Gowdy chief thompson. Good morning. Mr. Chairman and the judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism, Homeland Security, and investigation. I am pleased to address you. Challenges facing Law Enforcement in the 21st century are numerous and varied. Terrorism, gangs, illegal narcotics, gun violence, cybercrime, social media, behavioral health, hold significant challenges to Law Enforcement at all levels. This is not an allinclusive list by any means. In addition to those concerns, there are three pressing matters demanding our immediate attention. Police relations, recruitment and retention, and budgetary restraints. Our ability and capacity to respond appropriately and effectively to those concerns are dependent upon how we manage those three foundational issues. Publicized Police Contacts have gotten the attention of our citizens. Ever, questions about police accountability, police training, and culture are commonplace. Intense of intent scrutiny, improved relations is paramount. Even agencies such as my own that have traditionally focused on Community Engagement must keep the strengthening those relationships and build new ones. We will not be as responsive or successful without strong collaborative partnerships. For baby boomers retiring and tricking applicant pools, recruitment and retention is struggling. The dangers of the profession, prevent some from pursueg, while others more lucrative and safer career fields. Retention has been negatively affected by tightening budgets that result in stagnant wages, reduced employee benefits, and limited performancebased incentives. This segues into the third and final challenge i wish to share with you, budgetary restraints. Whereate where many we have economic woes and difficult decisions about budgets, Many Police Departments are underfunded. It is difficult to compete with Corporate America for qualified applicants and retain experienced personnel. We are facing the growing necessity of advanced technology. Lessxample, body cameras, than lethal weapons, and communication systems. Some amount to Unfunded Mandates. In the 21st Century Policing environment, these are not niceties, they are necessities. For instance, many Law Enforcement agencies committed to the quick officers with body cameras, which expanded opportunities to catch more critical policecitizen encounters. But it comes with a cost. Additional funding from governmental sources will be needed not just for equipment, but for training to enhance the diversity consciousness of Law Enforcement specialists such as deescalation, use of force, and subject matters deemed necessary. All those needs may vary. The challenge is the same. In conclusion, i reiterate these issues must be immediately addressed. Enhancing Community Relations is fundamental to gathering information, and combating crime and terrorism. Communitydes Building Partnerships to help sol